• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.83-115
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• 2011

This research is to study the psychological, emotional, physical pains of the spouses of gambling addicts and the recovery process from the suffering. From this, we expect to propose a supportive program to help the recovery. Nine of the spouses of gambling addicts joined this research and the hermeneutical grounded theory methodology was applied to interpret it. Data were collected by the depth interview and various written records and they were analyzed by Rennie(2007)'s methodology. We could construct 20 categories by analyzing and categorizing meaningful units of the data. The core theme of the recovery experience was presented as "Stopping rolling the Sysyphus's boulder, and returning to the routine peace." Based upon the research outcomes, we suggested a supportive program considering male and female differences and a way to improve the accessibility to the therapy system for the spouses of gambling addicts and the need for a meaning therapy.